Leatherman PST II + Tool Adapter

The refreshed version of the tool that started it all: Pocket Survival Tool. PST II introduced folding scissors, fishhook sharpening groove on the diamond file and blade serration. One of my favorite Leatherman tools of all time: very handy package with great functionality.

CZ75 PCR vs. CZ75 P-01

Many people seem to ask on forums about differences between these two models (both designated as "CZ 75 D Compact" in Europe, which causes further confusion), but answers usually focus on the accessory rail introduced in P-01 model.

Casual observer will see this difference at first glance. After closer examination (s)he will probably notice that P-01 frame is also longer and somehow bulkier, and that they have different trigger shape. 

But there are way more differences than that - slim profile slide release and decocker on P-01, slightly longer barrel on PCR etc. 

I couldn't find detailed comparison anywhere (not to mention detailed photos), so I decided to make it myself. I hope you will find it useful.

Click on pictures for larger resolution photos.

Gear: East German NVA Canteen

 

Compared to it's West German counterpart, the East German army canteen of Cold War period looks kind of sad, really. It's very basic, cheap piece of gear - East Germany officials obviously decided that drinking water is a secondary function of a soldier and that there's no point in making big deal of it.

Gear: French Army Mess Tin

I don't really know much about history of this design, except that it is a French Army 1952 model, probably inspired by a British Pattern 37 mess kit instead of classical pot-and-pan design. French mess tin consists of three rectangular, thick aluminum pans with rounded corners, stowed into each other.

Downside of this solution is lack of the large main pot to be hanged over the campfire.In return you get a handy, compact design, better suited to fit into a rucksack, side pocket of a backpack, belt pouch or even cargo pocked on your fatigues than it's kidney-shaped counterpart.

Gear: Swedish Army "Trangia" Mess Kit

  

Sturdy, heavy and well-designed piece of equipment, with good reputation and a large number of fans in bushcraft/survival society, it is commonly named "Trangia" set, but I'm pretty sure it wasn't the only producer manufacturing it over the years. I've had sets with two different stamps myself (see below).

 

It comes in two basic variations: stainless steel (heavy) and aluminum (lighter, but still weighting around 1kg / 2 lbs empty). However, this is a full mess set rather than just a mess tin - beside the two-piece mess tin itself it contains a surprisingly heavy alcohol stove, fuel bottle and a sturdy windshield / stand.

It is a solid design, with few interesting solutions.

Gear: Polish LWP Mess-tin

Mess-tin used by Cold War era Polish army (LWP) shares many similarities with both German NVA and Bundeswehr mess kits, but I will skip description of these similarities as they can easily be seen on pictures.

So, what's different?

Gear: German NVA Mess Tin

This NVA (Eastern Germany army) mess kit is based on the same concept as Bundeswehr (Western Germany army) counterpart of the same Cold War period.